METHOD FOR ENABLING THE INSTALLATION OF SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS ON LOCKED-DOWN COMPUTERS

• US 20100070971A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Installfree Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Gabay, Yoram, Entin, Uzi, Shlomai, Netzer
• Granted Patent: US 8,578,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

A method for enhancing functionality of locked-down computers by allowing installation of software applications on the locked-down computers operated by users having limited administrator permissions. The method comprises detecting an attempt for installation of a software application on a locked-down computer; generating a virtual software application corresponding to the software application, wherein the virtual software application is generated in a virtual environment; and enabling the execution of the virtual software application in the virtual environment.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing functionality of locked-down computers by allowing installation of software applications on the locked-down computers operated by users having limited administrator permissions, comprising:

detecting an attempt for installation of a software application on a locked-down computer;

generating a virtual software application corresponding to the software application, wherein the virtual software application is generated in a virtual environment; and

enabling the execution of the virtual software application in the virtual environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the installation attempt further comprising:

determining for each launch of an executable file or an installer file if the executable file or the installer file is an installation process, wherein the determination is based on at least one of;

a type of the executable file or the installer file and a location of the executable file or the installer file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the virtual software application further comprising:

creating a new data file;

launching in a virtual environment an installation process of the software application to be virtualized;

during the installation process;

capturing data writes to a file system of an operating system of the locked-down computer; and

saving the data writes in the new data file.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

upon completion of the installation process, generating an on-demand data (AOD) file using the new data file; and

generating a user data file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the installation process executed in the virtual environment is transparent to a user of the locked down computer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein enabling the execution of the virtual software application in the virtual environment, further comprising;

when a user selects to run the software application immediately after the installation process is completed performing;

running the virtual software application from a temporary directory; and

uploading the virtual application to a file server.

7. The method of claim of claim 6, wherein uploading the virtual application to the file server further comprising:

sharing the virtual application with other users in a organization by deploying the virtual application to computers of other users.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual application is created by an Encapsulator;

and the installation process and installation attempts are monitored by a monitor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the locked down computer is at least a personal computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, and a personal digital assistance (PDA).

10. A system for enhancing functionality of locked-down computers by allowing installation of software applications on the locked-down computers operated by users having limited administrator permissions, comprising:

a monitor for at least detecting an attempt for installation of a software application on a locked-down computer;

an Encapsulator for generating a virtual software application corresponding to the software application, wherein the virtual software application is generated in a virtual environment; and

a bridge agent for enabling the execution of the virtual software application in the virtual environment.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein detecting the installation attempt further comprising:

determining for each launch of an executable file or an installer file if the executable file or the installer file is an installation process, wherein the determination is based on at least one of;

a type of the executable file or the installer file and a location of the executable file or the installer file.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein creating the virtual software application further comprising:

creating a new data file;

launching in a virtual environment an installation process of the software application to be virtualized;

during the installation process;

capturing data writes to a file system of an operating system of the locked-down computer; and

saving the data writes in the new data file.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

upon completion of the installation process, generating an on-demand data (AOD) file using the new data file; and

generating a user data file.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the installation process executed in the virtual environment is transparent to a user of the locked down computer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein enabling the execution of the virtual software application in the virtual environment, further comprising;

when a user selects to run the software application immediately after the installation process is completed performing;

running the virtual software application from a temporary directory; and

uploading the virtual application to a file server.

16. The system of claim of claim 15, wherein uploading the virtual application to the file server further comprising:

sharing the virtual application with other users in a organization by deploying the virtual application to computers of other users.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the locked down computer is at least a personal computer, a laptop computer, a smart phone, and a personal digital assistance (PDA).

18. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable code when executed causing a processor to perform the process allowing installation of software applications on the locked-down computers operated by users having limited administrator permissions, the process comprising:

detecting an attempt for installation of a software application on a locked-down computer;

generating a virtual software application corresponding to the software application, wherein the virtual software application is generated in a virtual environment; and

enabling the execution of the virtual software application in the virtual environment.